Car washes and vape shops can still sponsor skilled foreign workers despite visa changes
Summary
More than 1,900 small businesses like car washes, vape shops, and mini-marts in the UK still have licenses to sponsor skilled foreign workers, even after visa rules were tightened in July 2025 to limit sponsorship mostly to graduate-level jobs with higher salaries. The UK Home Office is reviewing the use of the skilled worker sponsorship scheme and has revoked thousands of licenses to prevent misuse.Key Facts
- The UK skilled worker visa scheme allows employers to hire foreign workers who meet skill and salary requirements.
- In July 2025, rules were tightened to require jobs to be graduate-level with a minimum salary of £41,700.
- Despite the changes, over 1,900 small businesses like grocery stores, taxi companies, barbers, car washes, and vape shops still hold sponsorship licenses.
- More than 100 businesses were added to the sponsor list after the new rules started.
- The Home Office started an urgent review in 2025 after concerns about system abuse by some types of businesses.
- The government has withdrawn 3,299 sponsorship licenses in 2025, compared to 347 in 2023.
- Skilled worker visa approvals dropped 30% in the year to March 2026, with IT and finance jobs now most common.
- Some jobs like taxi drivers and retail assistants are ineligible, but there are exceptions for certain shortage occupations.
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